My name is Lindsay, not Veronica Roth, therefore I own nothing.
Sorry this chapter's a bit of a cliffhanger. I wanted to develop the new characters more and highlight Tris's developing confidence and comfort in Dauntless. I promise next chapter you'll get to hear secrets from the characters, including why Christina left Candor, some stuff about her and Will's relationship, and why Lynn considered transferring (I made that part up obvi. It seems to fit her). If you'd like to hear more about Kyle and Tyler's past, please let me know in a review and I'll write that in.
I would like to address some criticism from Chapter 2: I'm sorry if you didn't like that I changed the setting a bit by putting a lake in, but I liked the idea of it being a Dauntless thing, their own little lake in a city where there are supposedly no lakes. Kinda an illustration of the fact that they venture where the other factions refuse to. Also, as there are no well-known lakes in the city, a fear of large bodies of water would be probable, and the Dauntless are known for confronting their fears. Finally, my friends and I have our own initiation thing where the first time someone hangs out with us at the lake, we throw them in, because it's fun and it's a way of saying that we like that person and are comfortable around them. I wanted that little reflection of myself in the story.
Thank you for the constructive criticism, and if you have any ideas, let me know! Thanks for reading and if you enjoyed the story, write a review please! Happy Easter!
Chapter 35
Once we arrive back at Dauntless headquarters, Christina, Will, and I stop by the initiate's dorm to drop of our dripping clothes. To my surprise, Peter is lying in bed sleeping. It's only eight o'clock. Why isn't he celebrating in the pit with the rest of Dauntless or at a party in a friend's apartment? The full realization that Drew and Molly are gone, living the rest of their lives in poverty with the Factionless, steamrolls over me. Peter has no one here now. When he transferred to Dauntless, he gambled everything he's ever known and seems to have lost more than he gained. I almost feel sympathetic. Almost. I may have softened since Al's death, but I am not going to forget Peter's role in Edward and Myra's defection, my experience with the Chasm, and ultimately Al's death.
After hanging up our wet clothes, we exit quietly. I, for one, do not want a confrontation with Peter tonight. Uriah is waiting for us in the hallway and leads us to Zeke's apartment on the third floor. The layout is similar to Tobias's place, but that's where the comparison ends. Tobias's apartment is sparsely decorated, as if he just moved in or is waiting to move out. Zeke's is a riot of color. Mismatched furniture, bottles of alcohol on shelves and countertops, white walls splattered with various shades of paint, the whole place reflects his personality. Colorful and chaotic, but comfortable.
Shauna, Tyler, Lauren, Zeke, Kyle, Marlene, and Lynn are already here, laughing and yelling at one another. I note Tobias's absence, but am not comfortable enough with publicly being a couple to ask where he went. As Christina, Will, Uriah, and I find places to sit among the group, Tobias rushes in.
"I found two bottles in my cabinet!" he announces before stepping into the kitchen.
"Good. It's about time someone else supplies the alcohol," Zeke replies.
"Four, can you make my usual?" Lauren asks.
"Yeah sure. Anyone wanna come help me?" he says. I stand and step into the kitchen, mostly out of curiosity. I've never seen anyone mix drinks before, as Abnegation calls alcohol self-indulgence.
"Never tried anything like this before, huh Stiff?" Kyle follows me in and immediately sets himself to work, yanking glasses and bottles out of cupboards. Looks like Zeke actually is supplying some of the alcohol tonight.
"Never had the chance," I reply. I've decided that I won't be offended by Kyle's commentary. He's friends with Tobias and Zeke, so I'll just have to put up with him.
"Now would be the time to try it. I can make you something if you'd like," Kyle says as he pours orange juice into a blender.
"Umm… I'm not sure what would taste good," I feel naïve and out of place all of a sudden.
"No problem. Try some of this," he holds out a cup with yellow-orange slush in it, "and if you like it you can have the extra. It's what Lauren always drinks."
"You don't have to drink if you don't want to, Tris," Tobias says. I smile at him and thank him for watching out for me, but I want to try this. I want the organized chaos of Dauntless celebrations and diving in the lake and self-indulgent drinks, so I take a sip from the glass offered to me. I like it, more than I thought I would.
"What's this called?" I ask Kyle.
He grins at me, a carbon copy of Zeke's reckless smile, and replies, "Sex on the Beach. It's basically Peach Schnapps, orange juice, and ice. You can have that one, just deliver the other glass to Lauren."
While Tobias and Kyle mix drinks for the group, I busy myself delivering them; helping out when it's needed is an Abnegation habit I can't shake, but maybe that's not all bad. After everyone has a drink in their hands, we lounge around in Zeke's living room. Tobias sits close to me, our bodies touching from knee to shoulder. I feel content, happy with the boy sitting next to me and the friends I've made. I like all of them now, Kyle included. He really doesn't intend to be rude, he's just outspoken and not sure how to deal with my old faction.
Shauna stands up and yells, "Alright this getting boring. Who want to play truth or dare?"
"Not me. I still hear jokes about getting caught running past the leader's offices in my boxers," Tyler says.
"Don't get caught next time," Shauna replies with a smug smile.
"Well… I also want to hear about our brave new members and since no one ever picks truth, we won't be able to get as many secrets out of them. Let's play confession instead."
"Fine, but we're playing truth or dare next time."